Lisa - THanks!! I'm totally proud of you, too, ya know. You are awesome!!

I have a tip for everyone, btw. A bunch of you guys are always like "Man, 500 situps would kill me!!"

Well, if I did them w/o the stretching, they'd kill me, too. A key trick for doing a bunch of situps, is do as many as you can before your stomach gets fatigued (i.e. you dont' think you can do any more), and then lie on your back and stretch your arms & legs out as far as you can -- reach as far with your arms above your head as you can, and push your heels away from your body as far as you can. Hold the stretch and breathe into your stomach for 5-10 seconds, and let your body relax. Then release the stretch and sit up, and breathe for a moment.

If you do that between the situps, it helps your body recover, plus it stretches your abs out, which makes situps easier altogether.

Hope it helps you guys!!

Now, since I'm totally drenched in sweat (and MAN it feels good!), I am gonna go hop in for a quick shower & then get to work on my tapes.

Hey chickies! Just had another break in the action here, so I can jump in & spend a few minutes.

Cindi- Way to go on the 5.5 pounds! Kick Butt!!! That's great!

Lucy- that's rad- and hella good! LOL...80's child...yup..you young 'uns...

Lisa- I hate that- I've been trying to edit a post & backspace, and the next thing you know, it acts like I'm hitting a back arrow & takes me out of what I'm doing. Arrrgh!

Ok...my news for the day...today is day 99 for me. Tomorrow will be my 100 days of healthy eating and making better choices. 100 days, and a lot of changes for the better. Clothes fir better- even some of the smaller ones I bought are big on me now. I walk taller, carry myself better. I have muscles starting to develop under this fat. I feel lumps in my legs, and realize they aren't tumors, they are quadriceps. I reach for something, and feel the tingle in my triceps from the killer upper body workout. I feel hollows near my collarbone, see rounding of the shoulder caps...and muscle hardening there. I've made a lot of progress in almost 100 days, and I should be happy with that. I am happy with that, but I'm looking for a scale victory as well.

What I'm hoping for is a new middle number. It's going to take a while- months- maybe even until the end of the year for me to see a new first number. But I soooo want a new middle number. I'd do some weight loss dances, make a sacrifice to the gods of weightloss...I really, really, really REALLY want this in the worst way. I know, I know...the # isn't what's important. At least it shouldn't be..all the health benefits and NSVs should be what I focus on.

But I really, really, really want a new middle number!!!!

ok, I'll stop my pouting now. Please, everyone, say a few words for me...I've really worked hard for this- I'd love to have a scale victory to report tomorrow, on my Day 100.

As I mentioned earlier, no exercise this morning, due to late start. It was a tossup- 1 mile WATP in 15 minutes, or shower, brush teeth & try to make the best of day old hair Hygine won out over exercise...but will be made up for this afternoon.

I committed to Mary that I would try the 3 mile WATP tonight. I did a total of 3 miles the other night, but I had a break in between. 45 minutes of that should leave me very sweaty, and with legs of jello. Mmmm- jello...I need to make jello- 4g of protein in the entire box- that's something I can have with reckless abandon, to conserve carbs & stuff- give the pudding a rest. I'll have to make celebratory jello for tomorrow. Ok, back to the thought...that tape should really work me out hard, and then whatever body part doesn't feel all woozy & wobbly after that, will get a mini workout.

Dinner- was thinking either cube steak & veggies, or chicken & veggies, but I may go with less bulk if I'm really beat up after my workout. Have a great afternoon, ladies & I'll peek in to let you know how I do tonight.

Ok...I did it....I did the entire 3 mile WATP tape, complete with ab belt, even though my triceps were screaming at me.

Right before the 2 mile mark, when she starts with the double knee lifts (I have now decided I hate the knee lifts more than the kick backs) I seriously thought that there was no way I'd make it through 2 on this tape...

But I did. I'm still very flushed, even though I finished at 6:45... I stopped sweating pretty quickly after stopping, so I must be getting more fit. After being able to do this, I am seriously thinking of sacrificing easter candy to the weight loss gods in an attempt at a different middle number. Oh please, please, please be a different number tomorrow!!!

I'm so ticked that Friends is a repeat...when are we supposed to see these final episodes? Keep showing me the dang repeats that I get to see every night at 11, why dontcha???? I'm fed up, I tell ya!

So, anyhow, I'm pumped because I was able to do the full 3 miles, and I can actually still move, even though there were a few minutes there that I questioned my sanity...

I think I'm going to flip through the fitness magazines & try to organize all the things I want to scan into the computer & set up into a cheat-sheet type list- shrink down some of the images & stuff instead of trying to flip through all these different bookmarked pages. Gotta make it easier to just get up & do it, with no excuses.

Have a great night ladies! If I can do this, we can all do this!

First award: Julie, for your 1 pound so far!

Keep it up- you're working hard! Bravo!

Magnoliamouth: Excellent- 2 pounds gone!

That's great, chickie! Keep it up! You're kicking butt!

Cindi- what can I say? Wow! 5.5 pounds....

I'll carry over that .5 for the next award- in the meantime,
let me just say what a great accomplishment! Awesome!

Hello everyone!!! Just wanted to report on my day -

Food went really good - I was actually a bit under points (just 2, but that's good for me)

Water was...uh...not so good!!!! Only about 16 oz. Oh no!!!! What happened?? Gotta do better tomorrow!!

Exercise is about to happen. I really like exercising at night. I like to read and ride.

It was great to see all the awards!! You guys are awesome and motivate me more than you ever will know! Thanks Jennifer for doing the awards!!!

Hope you all have a terrific night!!!

Good evening chickies...
Just finished watching Survivor! Anyone else watch this show? I am soooo bummed that Lex got voted off! Dang it! But Rupert is still in, so I'm happy with that!

OK...onto food and exercise! Today's food was ok! I didn't start drinking water until later this afternoon (because I was getting nauseous from it yesterday--whaaa---) and I got a nice big 20 glass of it and brought it to my office and promptly knocked it all over my desk. Our new administrator was standing there when I did it. Despite all the stress he has been dealing with getting used to a new place (this is week #2 for him, and our annual state surveyors--a huge deal--walked in yesterday and will be there til tomorrow in addition to the fire marshalls last week, a small dryer fiire last week, hiring a new director of nurses, etc...) he quickly helped me soak it all up and offered to go get paper towels and every thing...he doesn't even know where the paper towels are, he's so new! Anyway...so I drank about 20 oz. diet coke today and about 10 oz. water at work! AND tonight I am on my 2nd 16 oz. glass of water, so...not good in that dept!

Food today:
B-fast: 2.5 oz. deli turkey, 1 oz. hard cheese, 2 slices ww thin bread, 1/2 cup grapes
Lunch: Leftover beef w/ 2T BBQ sauce, 1/4 c. mashed potatoes, 1/2 cup steamed beans/carrots
Snack: 2 oz. string cheese, 2 creme cookies (very small size)
Supper: 2 slices frozen pizza--ok, it was cooked! (probably not a good choice, but it was all ready for me! )

Probably not enough fibery foods, but hey! I think I'm within my points!

Exercise as promised. Did 30 minutes on the bike and 40 minutes of weights and toning! I did something a little different tonight, though. I did the weights and toning BEFORE the bike. It seemed to make my ride easier and it did because I did 10 miles in 32 minutes without too much effort in the last 5 minutes! YEA!


So that's me with the check in...Now on to some other things!

First, thank you Jennifer for the award! That feels good! And thank you for noticing that I am working hard. Even though TOM arrived in the night last night and I really didn't feel good (crampy, etc) I would have felt even worse if I had not exercised tonight. I sure wish I could get up at 6 or even 6:15 to workout in the morning, but I am just not waking up and I don't have an alarm clock! So I guess since the nights are staying lighter longer, I will just workout outdoors more (walking, bike riding etc) or do my workout inside at night!

So now...back to work! I wore an outfit today that apparently compliments my better features! It's one of those pairs of pants that someone gave me last year which I wasn't able to get zipped up and now can wear comfortably! So today, about 3 people made comments to me about my bottom side and how good I looked in those pants! All the hard work is paying off, you see!

And now...for the real kicker! A few months ago in a different challenge I think I mentioned a couple of co-workers who were less than supportive of my "dieting" attempts. They had made some comments to me about not being "realistic" in my goals of wanting to be a size 8 (after all I am 5'2" with a small build). So that inspired me to put together a collage (which is still hanging on the side of my fridge and I look at it every day). One of these girls has been "yo-yo dieting" for well over a year with not much success (but I won't knock the attempts) Well, interesting thing happenned today...a twist of fate so to speak! I was sitting at the desk and the two of them came up to me and started asking me what I was doing for exercise!!!! I almost fell over in my chair! I kind of wanted to tell them a little white lie and say that I wasn't doing anything , but I didn't!!! I am proud of what I have been doing and I feel so much better about myself, so I shared with them what I have been doing and I am going to make copies of my "toning and weight" workout for them! So go figure! Me...giving exercise advice to someone who "belittled" my weight loss attempts a few months ago! Hmmmm! Don't you just find that humorous! I find it enlightening, to say the least! Life is full of suprises!

OK, that's enough for now! I hope you all had a good day and congrats to all of you for doing such great work and thanks for keeping me motivated to have more days like today!

Just another quick check in -
I did my 30 min. on the bike. I am really sore. I have upped the resistance a bit, and it is more challenging. I was thinking about skipping the exercise, but I am glad I didn't! I feel good. My legs are feeling...different. Not quite as flabby. My next goal is to get some toning exercises in. But, for now, it is nice to at least be more consistent with exercising at all. One day at a time.

Julie - Somebody told me you were a Hot Mama in a certain outfit today!!! Go Julie!! Glad you had a good day!

Jennifer - Way to go with the WATP! You guys are keeping me accountable for the exercise. Thank you!!!!!

Lucy - You are really kicking butt with the exercising too!! You'll be comfortably wearing the 11's in no time! I like to think about things like that - things to look forward too. Good job, Lucy!

Well, off to bed with me. Talk to you chickies in the morning!!

Thanks Jennifer & Lisa.

It's just after midnight. I am not ready to sleep anytime soon. Freaking out, I guess, is a good way to put it. I wrote a super-long journal entry about it, if anybody wants to know the exacts for WHY I'm so upset.

Anyway, same ice cream thing tonight. But this time, I wanted chocolate or ice cream, or a combo of both. He steered me away and, after my kinda crazy emo breakdown in the kitchen (jrnl post), he decided that I needed popcorn, so he helped me make a fresh bowl. I felt way better. Then, to help even more, he got the grapes out of the fridge and decided that I needed some of those.

I ended with just over 4 bottles of water today. Not bad. Right on target. Cals were just over 1300 (because i had a bowl of cereal at 10:40 to kill ehartburn and stress), so a little over, but not too bad. Still within a good range for my plan. (Wiat, now, before ya stay that's too few.. I'm 5'1", and up until recently, have been eating only 800-1200 cal per day, on average. So 1300 for me is AWESOME)

Um. Other than that. Yeah. Not much. If I don't end up in surgery tomorrow (hah, doubtful but still possible), I'll tell ya how the appt goes w/ the doc. Hopefully it's nothing to be worried about. Knowing me, I'm just freaking out over nothing.

But it's better to be horribly stressed and worried, and find out there's nothing wrong, rather than think everything is fine, and find out you have something really wrong, right? That's just the way my mind works, I guess.

Have a great Friday, you guys!! WOOHOO!!! ALMOST THE WEEEKEND!!!!

Hi everyone! Mind if I join in on the challenge, I know am about 9 days late but I would love to join, Cindi actually clued me in on the challenge you all have going! Do you want my start from today on or my start weight from April 2nd which was my last WI? Not sure how this all works.

I am a 36 year old wife and Mom, my son is 16 1/2 and I have been married to a wonderful guy for 18 years now.....WOW that is a tough one to swallow...lol!!! I do work part time taking senior citizens to their appointments and such in the middle of the day till early evening which puts a crook in my lunch sometimes I don't get one....lol!

Ok my goals that I need to work on:

1) Stay OP every day including those dreaded weekends which are so hard for me since that is the only real time DH is home (he is an owner operator)
2) Exercise at least 20 minutes day
3)Water, water, water that is a biggie for me since I am driving about 6 hours out of the day don't have time to potty all the time......lol!
4) Getting something for lunch no matter what it might be a piece of fruit or something.
5) Lose 10 lbs by May 1st!!!!!!

Ok now do we post daily or what like I said I never did one of the challenges before.

P.S.==Thanks Cindi!

Michelle

Michelle - welcome!! I am so glad you are with us. I just love it here - the support is awesome. These chickies keep me going . I would go ahead and start with your starting weight on April 2nd. As for posting, I think most of us post daily. Well, it's easy to get a bit addicted!!! Posting daily keeps me accountable, and keeps me focused. But, you don't neccessarily have to post every day! Again, Welcome!!

As for me today - I am doing well. It is 70 degrees here. Lots of people in shorts. I think this change of seasons has me motivated like this - no jeans and sweaters to hide behind. And, we have our vacation coming up in about a month and a half...gotta shed these pounds. And, although the scale is sooooo important to me(who am I kidding - it's major to me!!!), I want to tone up. After having the 3 kids, nothing is in the same spot. I am a good example of the power of gravity . I am going to add toning to my exercise routine. I won't post this as an official goal, yet. I need a plan.

Today I have had 11 points so far, which leaves me 11 more!! That's really good to be at 1:30 and still have 11 points. I am not ravenous today thank goodness.

I am planning on doing the bike again tonight. I want to do an UB workout too. I will see how my back feels. I'm trying not to push things - just add a bit at a time.

I feel good today. There's sunshine and my family and my chickies here ....

(((((((((hugs to chickies))))))))))),
Lisa

Hey there chickies! Happy Friday!

It's been nice & quiet here at the office, so I got a lot of stuff done this norming. Now I have 2 hours to kill...lol.

Michelle: Welcome to the group! Ditto to what Lisa said- start with your April 2nd weight, and count from there. As far as posting, I think a lot of us post daily, just to be able to check in & get that extra support- also, to keep accountable. I feel like "if I wrote it there, I need to do it." It's a great group- you can't ask for a better group of ladies here- I am amazed every day by what we can all accomplish, doing this together.

Lisa: Way to go with that bike ride chickie. For your upper body workout, there's a lot of stuff that you can do from a seated position, to make sure your back gets that extra support. You don't want to mess with that, I'm sure...but bicep curls, french presses, tricep kick backs, some overhead presses, and butterfly lifts are effective, and are done sitting down. Start with 3 pound hand weights, and gradually move up when you can. If you need ideas, I've got some articles I can copy for you with the exercise details.

Julie: Oops! At least your desk got it's daily water requirement. Woo hoo- awesome NSV with the pants, girl. Even better with the judgemental co-worker now coming to you looking for advice. Hee hee- see, despite their scoffing, you're the one doing it, girl! Kick butt!

Lucy: Just wanted to let you know I was thinking about you- hope all is going well at the Dr. today, and that you'll be checking in tonight. Mamma Jennifer needs to look out for her littlest chickie!

Ok..now for my day...

Food today:

Breakfast:
1 peach cottage double
1 oz fat free cheddar
1/3 cup smart start

Lunch:
1 lowfat tortilla
3/4 cup taco meat
1 oz low fat mozzarella

Dinner:
thinking about:
1 lowfat tortilla
1oz low fat mozzarella
1 chicken breast sliced into fajita strips

Evening exercise:
at least the 2 mile WATP, 3 if I'm feeling the urge
UB sortcuts workout

That's pretty much it....except I checked the scale this morning... I missed my goal by .6 pounds. Not the end of the world, by any means...but I really would have liked to see the new middle #. Maybe by Monday, if I am really good this weekend & keep my butt moving. At least more WATP, and the bike, for sure. And maybe some aerobic cleaning, if I have time.

Ladies, have a wonderful Easter weekend- we were supposed to have plans with hubby's parents for an easter brunch, but I think that's falling apart. It will just be a quiet weekend at home, if that's the case.

Catch everyone later!

Okay, hi to the new chickies, and wtg to the other chickies who did great jobs today and yesterday.

I'm sorry. I have no energy right now. They took a bunch of blood (4 large vials) from my right arm, and I kinda needed that blood!! So I'm weakly and blaaah, that's for sure.

Gist of Dr's Appt: I told them what was up. I peed in a cup (What fun!), nothing wrong there. I have great urine!! Woohoo? He did an exam, found some issues (journal post for more details). Scheduled me for some labwork this morning (thus the blood draw) for extensive testing, and I have an ultrasound on Monday at 1:45. Then, I go back on Friday of next week to discuss everything with him and get diagnosed, I guess. I hope so, darn it. I HATE waiting. I am so impatient it's not funny.

Other than that, no workout for me today. I feel way too weak, and I had to leave right after I got up this morning. I'll do some tomorrow, instead. Plus, I think I'll be painting tomorrow, so that's an upperbody workout for sure!!

Food today:

B - 1 1/2 cup coffee, 1 rice cake w/ pnut butter, 1 nutrigrain bar, 1/2 cup ff cottage cheese. About 390 cal, but it didn't stay with me for long, so I only got about 60 of those cals absorbed. ARGH.
L - Leftover mexican food from last night - about 250 cal. (not very hungry right now)
D - Chicken pesto (500 or so cal)

Which leaves me with around 300 cal for snacking & whatnot tonight. I'm gonna be munching tonight, I'm sure.

Anyway, thx for the support, you guys. I totally appreciate it. I have to go do several unhappy hours of extreme typing and listening, now. LAME. COuld be worse, though!! Anyway, have a great weekend, chickies, if I don't check in again!!

YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

I'm sure everyone is ready for their weekend...it's like a ghost town on 3FC- journals, forums, everywhere!

I did 2 miles of the 3 mile WATP tape before dinner...and sure enough, hubby made fajita strips from chicken breast, and I had those, with a little mozzarella cheese & just a sprinkle of cheddar, and less than 1 tbsp of reduced fat sour cream.

Peeking in just to check on everyone...have a great night, chickies!